Fabfilter's Pro-R or Sonible's smart:reverb?

[antic604]

Both are currently on sale at around $75-ish and I'm considering getting one of them. The problem is which. I demoed both and I like them for different reasons:

• Pro-R like all FF plugins is super easy to use and to sculpt the sound, but it feels a bit traditional and normal; I really like most of the presets though and - considering it's never been updated - perhaps there's v2 around the corner with some more leftfield stuff?

• smart:reverb is ...weird, but in a good sense, i.e. it's easy to create peculiar spaces and control / shape them, but it's not as great for regular stuff; also I'm not sure about the GUI which is fun, but (again) weird for a reverb

The problem is I kinda need both at once, i.e. weird and normal. Like Echoboy or Timeless3, that have a "range" and can do regular and mundane as well as crazy and bonkers.

Non-reverby cons of Pro-R? None, I think. For smart:reverb it's definitely iLok requirement (even if it's only the digital one) and the fact that it would be my 1st Sonible plugin, which usually doesn't end well for my wallet

Please don't recommend anything else.

Pretend those are the only 2 reverbs on planet Earth and you need to choose one

[Passing Bye]

Well, you don't plan using any of them as your desert ones, so why even looking them like that, if any of those add anything to your arsenal, get them, get them both if you feel they really add something, I know I can't justify getting another reverb.

[antic604]

Well, you don't plan using any of them as your desert ones, so why even looking them like that, if any of those add anything to your arsenal, get them, get them both if you feel they really add something, I know I can't justify getting another reverb.

Oh, it's a regular KvR plugin itch (and I only have 2 other reverbs: Hybrid from Waves and Vintage Verb), that I need scratched. I just managed to narrow it down to those two

[Passing Bye]

Understand and don't really want to make things harder, especially since you made it bold, but knowing what you do, I wouldn't get any of those two and my next one would be winner between Eventide Blackhole and Valhalla Shimmer.

[martinjuenke]

Please recommend anything else.

Have you tried Reaper?

[MadDogE134]

i am really liking the smart:reverb. had it for about a year i think and it is pretty much my go to send fx verb unless i want something 'special' like plate, spring, etc. i usually just feed it audio sends, put it on 'universal' and let it decide. i then tweak it's parameters from there if need be.

really wanted to like Pro-R... it is beautiful lol... but i find it rather drab and i can do what it does with any of my other verbs and an EQ before or after. had it in the cart a few times but could never pull the trigger... i feel i would just be wasting money at this point and i am a self proclaimed reverb whore lol

cheers

[antic604]

Please recommend anything else.

Have you tried Reaper?

Yes, but it didn't have a reverb so I rage-quit it. Perhaps v7 will solve this?

[antic604]

Understand and don't really want to make things harder, especially since you made it bold, but knowing what you do, I wouldn't get any of those two and my next one would be winner between Eventide Blackhole and Valhalla Shimmer.

Oh, I FORGOT I actually have Blackhole and Mangledverb from Eventide! Hmm... Perhaps I have more reverbs that I'm aware?

[Passing Bye]

[teilo]

Honestly, if you have Blackhole and Mangleverb, I would get Pro R, and call it good. Between Blackhole and Mangleverb you will have lots of creative uses (might someday consider Valhalla Shimmer to round that out though). For everything else, Pro R is the single most versatile verb out there with an interface that is very easy to dial in. I have used many verbs, but I always find myself back to Pro R.

I have smart:reverb. It's interesting, but like so many AI-based plugins, you are submitting to an algorithm's idea of what your track/mix needs. You can't really "use your ears" to craft the reverb you want, so if you want something specific, it's not going to do it for you. And again, I've never found it to give me a better result than Pro R. Just a different result (and with limited control over that result).

[vitocorleone123]

Since I can’t recommend anything else per your rules, I’d just recommend saving your money.

[Fraggle]

Neither - go to a company that specialises in reverbs - > Valhalla -- yes , if you buy PLATE, ROOM and VINTAGE it will be $150 but I have never regretted that investment.....I have used them for more than 5 years and never had the need to look elsewhere for reverbs. I have 5 F.F. plug ins - their 3rd version of Timeless is better than Valhalla's delay, significantly so...I just believe it's "horses for courses"

[ATS]

Where is FF Pro-R $75?

[muki]

probably in his personal ff account
they have summersale now and therefore offer individual discounts depending on your already bought plugins

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Do you have ValhallaSupermassive? That does huge, crazy reverbs. Completely free. Probably my all time favorite free effect.

Never used either of the two you're asking about.